Background
The eleventh annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) will be held from Wednesday, 6 May, to Thursday, 7 May 2026. The Forum will be convened by the President of ECOSOC His Excellency Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, who had appointed two co-chairs - H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations, and H.E. Mr. Gregor W. Koessler, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations. As per its mandate, the Forum will be organized by the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT), convened by UN-DESA and UNCTAD, and the 10-Member Group of high-level representatives appointed by the Secretary General.
As in previous years, the theme of the STI Forum will be closely aligned with that of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), to be held from Monday, 6 July, to Wednesday, 15 July 2026, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The STI Forum will have an exclusive focus on the role and contributions of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2026 HLPF will hold in-depth reviews of five SDGs: SDG 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; SDG 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; SDG 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation; SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; and SDG 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Accordingly, the theme for the STI Forum 2026 is: “Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all.”
H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo
H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the 2026 STI Forum.
H.E. Mr. Gregor W. Koessler
H.E. Mr. Gregor W. Koessler, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the 2026 STI Forum.
DESA USG LI Junhua (right) met with the Co-Chairs of the 2026 STI Forum, H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo (middle) and H.E. Mr. Gregor W. Koessler (left), on 9 December 2025.
Photo credit: Predrag Vasic, DESA.
Announcements
The President of ECOSOC His Excellency Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa has appointed two co-chairs - H.E. Mr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations, and H.E. Mr. Gregor W. Koessler, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations.
The Call for Innovations is now open. The application deadline is 18 January 2026. Click the tab "Innovations" for more details.
The President of ECOSOC has issued the official Letter of Invitation to Member States for the 2026 STI Forum. Click here to check the letter.
The STI Forum has worked cumulatively since its inception. An important part in this process is the intersessional work of the UN system, its Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (IATT), and of the 10-Member-Group of High-level Representatives. Here we will cross-link selected intersessional work since the last Forum in May 2025, for ease of reference.
Conferences, meetings and workshops
- International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South, UN HQ, New York, USA, 16 Sept, 2025.
- 2025 Global Multi-Stakeholder SIDS Partnership Dialogue - SIDS Partnership Labs Advancing Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digitalization through Higher Education in SIDS, Virtual, 12 December 2025.
Publications
- Statistical Indicators of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization: Biennial Progress Report 2025, UNIDO
Capacity building
- Capacity Building Workshop for Small Island Developing States: Leveraging Big Earth Data to Evaluate the SDGs Progress, CBAS HQ, Beijing, China, 01-08 Sept, 2025.
Call for Innovations for the Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) is searching for breakthrough, scalable solutions addressing critical challenges in low-resource settings that can help accelerate progress on the SDGs. Young innovators and early-stage solution developers are encouraged to apply and contribute their creativity to advancing the SDGs.
Call for Innovations Details
Building on the strong outcomes of the 2025 edition, which showcased 28 innovations from across the globe, the 2026 Call will focus on the STI Forum’s Theme on “Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all” and advancing the following five SDGs:
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
Selected innovations will have the unique opportunity to be highlighted at the STI Forum, with a global audience of policymakers, experts, and innovators. Depending on resource availability, this may include the opportunity for in-person participation at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Young innovators from the Global South are especially encouraged to participate.
Subject to the availability of resources, this year’s selected innovators may have the opportunity to participate in a virtual capacity-building program. The intent of such a program is to strengthen innovators’ capacity beyond technical aspects, with potential topics covering how to communicate impact data and build core competencies for commercialization. These sessions are designed to help bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.
The Call seeks to engage young innovators, as well as underrepresented groups, including women and Indigenous innovators, whose perspectives and leadership are essential for inclusive and sustainable development.
The UN Call for Innovations encourages young innovators and early-stage solution developers to apply and contribute their creativity to advancing the SDGs. This initiative co-convened by UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Youth Science-Policy Interface (SPI) Platform, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), in partnership with Engineering for Change, ASME Innovation Showcase (ISHOW), and others, working together to empower the next generation of changemakers driving sustainable development through science, technology, and innovation.
Benefits of Participation
- Global Exposure: Gain recognition from UN Member States, researchers, funders, and development organizations.
- Networking Opportunities: Build relationships with collaborators, investors, and policymakers.
- Knowledge Exchange: Contribute to sharing ideas that can drive the final push for SDG implementation to 2030.
How You Can Get Involved
- Submit Innovations: Share your ideas, solutions, or funded innovations to inspire global action.
- Encourage Participation: Motivate innovators in your networks to submit their solutions.
- Spread the Word: Amplify this opportunity within your community to help us discover and feature groundbreaking ideas.
Submit the application
UN STI Forum Call for Innovations - Airtable
Disclaimer
If your innovation includes new and inventive features that may be patentable, it is essential to keep any detailed technical descriptions confidential until a patent application has been filed.
For guidance on patentability requirements, visit www.wipo.int/en/web/patents/protection.
For information on trade secrets, visit www.wipo.int/en/web/trade-secrets.
To learn about other types of IP, visit https://www.wipo.int/en/web/about-ip/.
